West Ham's missed window of opportunity as David Moyes only lands one permanent transfer

New signing: Hugill says he'll 'give absolutely everything'
West Ham United via Getty Images
Ken Dyer1 February 2018

A week after the transfer window opened, manager David Moyes had counted 30 players linked with the club.

In the end, they signed only one on a permanent deal, striker Jordan Hugill from Preston North End for £9million.

It’s no surprise then that many West Ham fans feel underwhelmed by Hugill’s arrival, especially when bigger names such as Daniel Sturridge, Danny Ings, Islam Slimani and Samir Nasri had been mentioned in dispatches.

West Ham’s other priority, other than a striker, was a holding midfielder but that search proved unfruitful despite interest in Anderlecht’s Leander Dendoncker and Lille’s Ibrahim Amadou.

That’s the problem when you raise the level of expectation, criticism will undoubtedly follow if you fail to deliver.

There is no disputing that

co-owner David Sullivan and Tony Henry, the director of player recruitment who has since been suspended by the club pending an investigation into allegations of discrimination, had worked hard to bring in players — but without notable success, at least numerically.

Portugal international Joao Mario joined on loan from Inter Milan last week, while January departures from the club included Diafra Sakho to Rennes in a £4.5 million deal rising to £8m with add-ons, plus Andre Ayew who has returned to Swansea in a deal worth £18m.

Moyes, though, has remained consistent in his policy that the club should sign players who can only improve the squad. “It’s not a lucky dip,” he said recently.

There are also those, among them former West Ham and Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, who believe West Ham have made a shrewd signing in the 25-year-old Hugill.

“He’s strong and aggressive, a big handful but it’s a big step up,” said Redknapp.

Middlesbrough-born Hugill, who has scored nine goals this season, is a graduate of the Glenn Hoddle Academy. He played for Whitby Town and Marske United before moving into the professional game with Port Vale and then joining Preston in 2014.

Without Andy Carroll, who is recovering from a leg operation, Moyes needed a player who could lead the West Ham line and Hugill fits the bill. West Ham were also linked with a move for Russia captain Fyodor Smolov but Moyes obviously believes that a young, hungry player such as Hugill is what is needed.

“It’s now a new challenge for me and hopefully I can bring what I did at Preston here,” he said.

“It’s amazing to know I’m a Premier League footballer. To know where I’ve come from in the last five years to where I am now in the Premier League is amazing. I’m still pinching myself to see if it’s all real.

“It’s a huge opportunity and I’m looking forward to it.

“Wherever I have been in life, not just in football, but in whatever I do, I give everything. I’m going to give absolutely everything for this club and for my team-mates.

“It’s a new challenge for me, playing in the Premier League, but West Ham are going to get nothing less than 100 per cent.”

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